The Scottish Government opened the stage two consultation on the Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard on 24 Jul 2026, seeking views on proposed energy and environmental performance targets and on an enhanced compliance process1. The consultation closes on 16 Oct 20261.
The standard has been in development since December 2022, when Ministers committed to give effect to Alex Rowley MSP's Proposed Domestic Building Environmental Standards (Scotland) Bill1. An industry Working Group was formed in June 2023, and a stage one consultation in July 2024 sought views on the form, approach and delivery timetable1. The Building (Procedure) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024 were laid in December 2024, introducing a requirement to submit design and construction stage compliance statements on specified energy and environmental standards, with a coming into force date of 31 March 20281.
That timetable has now been reviewed. The Scottish Government states that development of the stage two proposals, supporting guidance and assessment tools has taken longer than anticipated, and that it now aims to publish guidance and approved methodologies under standard 6.1 in Autumn 20271. To maintain what it calls a sufficient industry preparation period, it will amend the implementation date in regulations to Autumn 20291. It adds that it will consider the most appropriate approach, including introducing the standard in full, phasing it in, or supporting a voluntary adoption before compliance becomes mandatory1.
"This stage two consultation seeks views on proposed energy and environmental performance targets for the new standard and on proposals for an enhanced compliance process, including guidance to support the requirement to submit energy and environmental design and construction statements. Items related to indoor air quality and overheating are also presented."
The consultation presents interim domestic and non-domestic energy performance calculation methodologies as work in progress tools, to be developed further before being adopted as approved methodologies prior to implementation1. It also sets out a proposed Building Standards Energy and Environmental Compliance Handbook, which focuses on five considerations1:
| Consideration |
|---|
| Airtight construction |
| High performance insulation |
| Thermal bridge free design |
| Ventilation |
| Optimised energy use |
The Scottish Government states that, by reducing operational energy demand, improving ventilation and indoor air quality, and strengthening construction assurance, the new standard will support the achievement of its statutory 2045 Net Zero targets, 2040 Fuel Poverty targets and 2030 Child Poverty targets, as well as wider policy objectives including those in the Environment Strategy, Heat in Buildings Strategy and Housing to 20401. Scottish building regulations set minimum standards applicable to new buildings and to new work to existing buildings1.
Why it matters for households
The standard is aimed at new buildings and new work to existing buildings, so it does not directly change the rules for an existing home that is not being altered1. Its stated purpose is lower energy demand and reduced running costs, alongside assurance of a healthy indoor environment1. For a household, the practical effect of a tighter fabric and ventilation standard is that a new home should need less energy to keep warm and should have a designed ventilation route rather than relying on incidental air leakage. The compliance statements and the proposed Handbook are intended to give greater assurance that the performance designed into a building is delivered in practice, which addresses the gap between a home's calculated energy use and its actual energy use1. The consultation also covers indoor air quality and overheating, both of which bear on how a home performs in a warming climate and in well-sealed construction1.
What happens next
The consultation closes on 16 Oct 20261. Guidance and approved methodologies under standard 6.1 are now expected in Autumn 2027, and the implementation date in regulations is to be amended to Autumn 20291. The Scottish Government states that responses are usually published some months after a consultation closes, with an analysis report following later1. The consultation questions cover whether the standard should be mandatory and phased, or introduced initially on a voluntary basis1.
Sources1 cited
- [Building Regulations: The Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard: Stage 2
- Scottish Government consultations
- Citizen Space](https://consult.gov.scot/local-government-and-housing/building-regulations-passivhaus-equivalent-stage-2), consult.gov.scot